Vegan for Paryushan

Go Vegan for Paryushan: A Plea from the Jain Vegans of the UK

Paryushan, the Jain festival of penance and forgiveness will begin in a few weeks. During the festival, followers of the Jain faith traditionally fast, repent, and forgive. For lay members, fasting often entails avoiding activities that are traditionally thought to cause more himsa than others, such as eating root vegetables or eating after sunset.

Male calves are killed at birth or sold on to be reared for veal or beef (they are of no other value to a dairy farmer)

Dairy cows will normally get killed before the age of 10, even though they could live up to 20 years if given the chance. This is because her milk yield drop, and it is not does not make financial sense for a farmer to keep her alive when he is able to obtain milk from her younger (and more productive) daughters.

In light of this, it seems reasonable that during Paryushan we as Jains should acknowledge and reflect on the suffering we have imposed on cows as a result of our consumption of dairy products.